Hell's Kitchen Star Paulie Giganti Has Been Found Dead At 36

It feels like we've been hearing a lot of bad news from the showbiz circuit over the past year or so, and now tragedy has struck again for yet another veteran of the small screen. Recent Hell's Kitchen contestant Paulie Giganti was recently discovered dead in his home. He was 36 birrayears old at the time of his death.

Paulie Giganti was discovered as deceased on Thursday, April 20. TMZ reports that one of Giganti's neighbors called the authorities when they noticed an unpleasant odor. Officers arrived on the scene to discover the door ajar and Giganti's body on the floor in his bedroom. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office has since determined that he died as a result of an accidental drug overdose.

Fans of Fox's reality seriesHell's Kitchen will remember Paulie Giganti well from his time on the show. He was a serious contender for the top prize in Season 16, which featured many quite talented chefs. He made it all the way to the final five before he was finally eliminated by host Gordon Ramsay, ultimately coming in fourth in the overall competition. Although there was clearly no love lost between Paulie Giganti and Gordon Ramsay, the host did praise Giganti for maintaining his determination even in the face of great adversity and difficult challenges.

Born in Brooklyn, Paulie Giganti has been living in Philadelphia for a number of years. He spent five years working at the South Philadelphia restaurant Birra, which is known for its unique pizza and signature dish options. Birra owner Gordon Dinerman credits Giganti's consistency as a chef as part of why the restaurant is still around despite a very competitive market.

The Medical Examiner's Office has not revealed what drug or drugs were in Paulie Giganti's system at the time of his death. It was a tragedy that we may never fully understand. We can only celebrate his life and his work that clearly meant a great deal to him. He may not have emerged the victor in Hell's Kitchen Season 16, but he gave it his all, and he brought a lot of entertainment as he learned and adapted throughout the episodes. Check out his efforts to conquer one of Gordon Ramsay's most surprisingly difficult Season 16 challenges on Fox!

Our thoughts and sympathies here at CinemaBlend go out to Paulie Giganti's family in the wake of this tragedy. Be sure to stay tuned for the latest in TV news.

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